Howard Tring is the owner of Vacuum and Low Pressure Consulting, a company that supplies vacuum pump accessories such as reconditioned inlet traps and exhaust filters and new replacement elements for exhaust filters. Vacuum and Low Pressure Consulting also offers on-site vacuum technology and oil sealed vacuum pump repair training and consulting services, customized to the needs of the client. Since starting his training and consulting business Howard has worked with a number of companies in the UK, USA and Canada to address their training needs for vacuum technology and for improving vacuum pump repair skills.
Howard’s experience in the vacuum pump industry was with the BOC Edwards Company, now Edwards Vacuum, Inc. Starting as a mechanical engineering apprentice with Edwards in England, Howard completed his HNC Mech. Eng. during that time and worked as field service engineer at the end of his apprenticeship. At Edwards, Howard worked in various capacities including Field Service engineer, Sales engineer, Technical Support manager and finally Technical Training Manager – North America. In the many years with Edwards, Howard gained tremendous experience with the many types of vacuum pump systems and applications. Howard’s 30 year career with Edwards took him from England to Canada and then to the USA.
After migrating to Toronto, Canada and working for several mechanical equipment companies, Howard rejoined Edwards in Ontario as a sales engineer and became technical support manager which included running vacuum technology training courses. While in Canada Howard attended Ryerson Polytechnic (now Ryerson University) and completed Certificate Courses in Marketing and Business Administration.
When Edwards closed the office in Canada Howard was invited to move to Wilmington, MA where Edwards’ Head Office for the USA was located. At that time Howard was offered the role of North American Technical Training Manager, and was instrumental in helping to develop new training methods as Edwards expanded due to the popularity of “dry” vacuum pumps in the semiconductor market. Howard then moved to Philadelphia, PA area when BOC Edwards purchased Stokes Vacuum from Smiths Industries.
In Philadelphia Howard’s first task was to update the training material used by Stokes Vacuum to run its “Vacuum School” program. During that time the vacuum pump maintenance courses continued, allowing trainees to learn how rotary piston pumps, rotary vane pumps and Roots blowers worked and how best to service them.
Having worked in the factory assembly areas, field service, sales, technical support and technical training Howard had a wide range of experience with vacuum pump systems used in many different applications and has witnessed many of the problems that can occur with vacuum systems even if you are paying attention.
While in the US, Howard worked closely with the Corporate Technical Training Manager in the UK, Nigel Harris. Vacuum and Low Pressure Consulting is the North-American stocking distributor Nigel Harris’ “Modern Vacuum Practice” textbook. Much of the Basic Vacuum Technology training material Howard uses has been developed from the contents of this well regarded textbook.
Howard has installed and serviced vacuum furnaces, freeze dryers and vacuum deposition systems over the years and has built a reputation of being able to help customers with vacuum pump system problems in this field. Howard does not involve himself with system processes, preferring to let other experts look after those areas.
Howard is a member of ASM International and the Heat Treat Society, the American Vacuum Society, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Society of Vacuum Coaters and the American Society for Training and Development.
Howard works closely with customers who need help, always bearing in mind his motto “Good Parts & Advice – At a Fair Price”. Howard can be reached via e-mail at HowardT@VacuumAndLowPressure.com, and his website is www.VacuumAndLowPressure.com